The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-09
THE FEAST OF MUSIC CLOSED
Last Days Proceedings of the Music
Teachers National Convention.
An Interesting Discussion by Representatives
of Various Denominations on of Church
Nusic-The Governors Reception.
The Conventions Proceedings.

VI. l.. ~. "A.
opened with j. G. Fillmore, of Milwaukee. in the
| chair. The organ sonata. op 1877 IF. Merkel.
was given by F. Bassett of Cleveland The
| composer. Wilson G. Smith, of Cleveland, road
| paper entitled American Composition and its
| Recognition In and Out of the Music Teachers
Association" He thought greater boon to the
native composer than an international copyright
would be the Endorsement and practical support
of the musical profession. The real duty Of
creating demand for American works OF merit.
he held, is make of American works in
classes and concertrooms. What is needed
for the advancement of natural creative art is
faith cure-fafth that native writer's possess tai
emit and that Americans have the necessary
brains and energy to become in due time rep
resentative school among the nations of creative
musical art.
Charles W. Landon, of Cluverack N Y. said
the day had gone by when American music
be ignored. He proposed a house in every city
where music. approved by the association could
be had, and proposed catalogue to be published
quarterly and issued free every member of
the association and to all State societies This.
he held, would induce publishers and composers
to send their music for examination to the
citation for Official sanction. He submitted
olution calling for disappointment of board of
composers. The resolution and accompanying
suggestions referred committee.
Messrs. Landon Eddy and Whitney for consid-
Fl. b. Roney, of Chicago, read a paper on
boy Chors" He said there growth in
the demand for boy chors He denounced the
use of boy chors, hastily collected and badly
trained, who turn church into a play house.
He did not however. believe that boy choirs
badly behaved many church choirs of
grown people.
S. B. Whitney. of Boston, gave as his expert
that small choirs have been most salts
factorily conducted in the great churches
W Fl. Sherwood, assisted in some numbers
by T.. S. Nation, gave brilliant exhibition Of
his skill asa pianist, beginning with tarentelle
A major, four hands composed by Mr.. Matroon
This was followed by mazurka, G minor (Ferdi-
nand Dewey; polonaise. A minor NV. Fl. Dayas)
Lorey &c. B. Perry; Ethelinda. d major and
Medea, E fiat minor wv. H. Sherwood Mr..
Sherwood, on a recall. gave Chopins "Barca
role" The forenoon session closed with the
adoption of a memorial to j. G. Lennon, of
Boston
The concluding session of the convention be-
gan at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, with a
piano recital by August Hylested, of Chicago.
and vocal music by Miss Sallie E. Bingham.
pride, as an Indianapolitan. 1t was an hour of
delight to large audience and was all too soon
over.
In the matter OF ESSAYS novelty had been re-
served for the last. the discussion of the theme
of sacred music for choir and congregation by
three clergymen Of three widely differing Sc cts.
Rev. G. S. Ensel, of Paducah. KY. Jewish
rabbi, Rev. Alfred Young, of the Church of the
Paulist Fathers. New York, and Rev. William
NJ Cooke, of Trinity Parish, New York, an
Episcopaliar
The first ess, yst was Rev. G. S. Eusel, who.
though speaking with a strong foreign accent, in
spite of his more than thirty years residence in
this country, has an admirable command of lam
guage and whose presentation of his subject
had the charm of being removed from the dusty
highways of commonplace. and along rarely
travelled and picturesque paths. The specific
title of his essay was Traditional Music Of tine
Synagogue" Illustrating the points touched
upon in his essay, Miss Dora Messing, with
Prof. Max Leckner at the piano. sang 1.-The
Muezzns Call to Prayer" ''Miriam's Song
on the Red Sea-" THE Chant of the
Lam entations of jeremiah" and 'Kol
Nivre,"a penitential hymn for the eve of the
Day of Atonement In conclusion he said |
that he would characterize the difference be-
mentioning from the many examples the rendi-
ton of the Lamentations of jeremiah" The |
Church of Rome chants the sad verses of the
prophet during Holy Week in tune which is |
called the 'cantus primus" the first of the |
eight modes of Gregory the Great. It is. in |
deed, al plain chant 'Ene recitation Of the |
priest" he said, sis mirror in which the spirit |
of the powerful church is reflected that church |
which looks upon Rome the new Jerusalem |
and upon the Pope the high priest to whom |
over two hundred millions of faithful ad- |
herents pay homage. But in listen |
ing, the anniversary Of the destruction !
of Jerusalem, to the doleful cancellation |
of the same words in the synagogue. you cannot |
fail to be impressed with the sadness of the occa
sion when the still prosecuted jews of Russia. |
and Morocco lament bitterly over the |
loss of their national independence and the de- |
structlon of their tribal sanctuary. Yes. the |
Gregoriau chant of the lamentations is the mir |
ror OF the spirit of the victorious church. the He
brew cancellation is the history of the unfortu-
nate descendants of Israel set to music. Ameri- |
can Jews, thanks be to God, have no cause to Ia /
ment over the victories of Vespasian. Titus and
aid in fact the reform temples In this
blessed land of liberty recognize no such ami
versary in their church calendar. But when l
ask you whether those prosecuted jewish COM
munities in Europe, Asia and Africa have still a
Just cause to shed tears of bitter woe over their
existence. then am positive that in
the kindness or your ymDathetlC American
hearts your answer will be in the affirmative"
The Paulist father, Rev. Alfred Young, gave
to his essay the title of ''The Divine Idea of
Church Music" He is tall. slender. with gray,
almost white hair. His manner is impressive,
his voice musical. clear, and he speaks to the I'M
Outstanding. He said that words are an essen
tial element of singing. Without them there
could be no singing of any kind in out of
church. In song. melody is only the body
sensible form of words. God has made the ex-
preston of all language melody. There
q n O speech mel0GlOuS
and harmonious Therefore, all speech is truly
a song What should be the melody of a sonel
Il should be the melody of the words. and
bv no means the words of melody. Royal
robes a crown and scepter alone do not make
the queen nor the cowl the monk, nor the tiara
the pope. But if you have queen
then by ali means let her magnificent
costly and regal attire sing her royal
presence. If you have bonafde monk